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Renewable energy company gets grant for innovation in construction

14/08/2009

A Derbyshire business has received funding through the Sustainable Construction innovation Network (iNet) to help develop its unique range of heating and energy systems.

East Midlands Renewable Energy Ltd (EMRE Ltd), based in Derby, is an engineering consultancy specialising in integrated control of renewable and sustainable energy systems for domestic and commercial properties.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Sustainable Construction iNet offers grants of between £3,000 and £10,000, along with assistance and expertise in research and development of new products, processes or services to companies in the construction sector.

The £3,000 Innovation Support Grant will help to finance EMRE Ltd’s involvement in the Sustainable Housing Innovation Network of Excellence (SHINE) and, specifically, the SHINE-Zero Carbon (SHINE-ZC) demonstration project.

Vincent Smedley, Technical Director of EMRE Ltd, was keen to get involved in SHINE.  He said: “Our business is currently focused on solar thermal, solar PV, air sourced heat pumps and season thermal storage technologies. SHINE-ZC will be the East Midlands’ first zero-carbon social housing demonstrator and illustrates how an integrated ‘whole system’ approach can lead to truly sustainable dwellings at a realistic cost."

The iNet grant will allow EMRE Ltd to take a leading role in the SHINE-ZC project and fully exploit two of the key technologies the company has been developing in conjunction with Loughborough University. The first is the season thermal store technology that allows heat energy generated during the summer to be stored and released during the winter to produce domestic hot water and heating. The second is the whole system building environmental control system, which is a unique approach to controlling a building’s heating, domestic hot water and electrical demand system. It will allow the SHINE-ZC demonstration project to achieve a sustainable zero carbon rating at an affordable price. It also leverages the significant knowledge base within the Midlands Energy Consortium (MEC) and the new Midlands Energy Graduate School (MEGS).

Nawal Arshad, Business Adviser for the Sustainable Construction iNet, has been working with EMRE Ltd to secure the funding.  She said: “The project builds upon the Sustainable Construction iNet’s portfolio and the iNet grant helped the company to formulate a business and marketing strategy plan for the continuous development of its renewable energy products. This facilitated EMRE in collaborating with Shine consortium to become part of Shine Zero Carbon Demonstration project. iNet is encouraging all companies based in Derbyshire that supply products and services for the construction sector to develop ideas – not just renewable energies – to contact the Sustainable Construction iNet.  We will help them access funding, advice and information so that they can bring the product to market".
 
To qualify for an Innovation Support Grant, the applicant must be based in the East Midlands and operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water supply. They must also require technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs as a result.

Businesses wanting to find out more about the Sustainable Construction iNet and the grants available should telephone 01604 892836 or visit www.eminnovation.org.uk/construction

-ENDS-

Issued on behalf of the Sustainable Construction iNet by Lava. For further information contact Matt or Lindsey at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk

Notes to editors

About East Midlands Innovation

• East Midlands Innovation is the Regional Science and Industry Council which was established in 2005 by emda. 
• East Midlands Innovation’s principle responsibility is to take the lead for emda in implementing the Innovation Strategy and Action Plan for the East Midlands with the aim to grow a long term, sustainable, innovation-led economy.

About emda

East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.

Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:

Had a significant impact on the region's economy
Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
 
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times. 

Over the long term, emda's aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations.  The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for 'a flourishing region' can be achieved. 

For more details visit www.emda.org.uk

About ERDF

The ERDF Programme aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by supporting regional economic development.

The ERDF objectives for England are:
 Promoting innovation and knowledge transfer
 Stimulating  enterprise and supporting successful business
 Ensuring sustainable development, production and consumption
 Building sustainable communities
 Improving accessibility and connectivity (for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly only – as part of their Convergence Programme).

A Programme Monitoring Committee consisting of regional stakeholders such as Government Offices, RDAs, Regional Assemblies, Local Authorities, Sub-regional Partnerships, Higher Education Institutions, Trade Unions, and the private and voluntary sectors will monitor and oversee programme implementation in each region.

For more information on ERDF funding generally, please visit www.erdf.communities.gov.uk or http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/feder/index_en.htm

About ERDF in the East Midlands
The East Midlands is eligible for 268.5m Euros between 2007 and 2013, which, when combined with match funding, provides a programme value of approximately £420m – a significant investment in the economic development of the region.

The East Midlands qualifies as a competitiveness and employment region under the EU’s Cohesion Policy, which aims to meet the EU Lisbon objective to become ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social inclusion.’

East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is responsible for the programme management and delivery of the region’s 2007-13 ERDF Competitiveness Programme. The responsibility for the ERDF programme management was transferred from the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) to emda following a decision by the UK Government to seek greater alignment between ERDF and regional strategies and funding streams. The 2007-13 ERDF Programme is therefore set firmly within the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy.

A Programme Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Regional Director of Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM), guides the strategic direction of the programme and works closely with emda.

To find out more about ERDF, the region’s strategy for delivering the funds, how to apply for funding and how the programme is managed, please visit www.eastmidlandserdf.org.uk